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There's still a transitional phase to go through, but with the new year, new criteria for Energy Star windows, doors and skylights quietly went into effect last week. A lot of companies, no doubt, have invested a lot of time and money into making sure their products could carry the new label. There's probably still work being done, too.
For our poll question this week, I thought I'd see...more »

We’ve been doing The Talk for a couple of years now, and what I’m really loving about the feedback lately is that on the topics to which we cycle around to annually, we’re starting to paint a year-to-year picture of the industry’s mood. So while there’s a lot going on right now—not the least of which is the status of the health care reform bills and soon-to-be-...more »

Because we didn't have enough to keep us on our toes next year, the window and door industry has yet another challenge on its hands. A challenge, I'm expecting, that may catch more than a few companies off guard.
I'm talking about the lead paint handling rules slated to go into effect in April 2010 that would apply to all companies doing replacement projects in homes built before 1978. We report...more »

The Obama Administration is working on a program to boost energy efficiency upgrades in homes, including replacement of windows and doors. The industry is all for that. I'm sure many other executives would have been happy to join Jeld-Wen's Ron Saxton at the White House jobs forum last week to make the case that new windows and doors would be good for a lot of American homes and that our...more »

We begin our online coverage of the 2010 International Builders' Show today with an advance look at some of the window and door industry products to be featured at the upcoming event. That got me thinking about the show, and wondering what it holds in store for us in January.
Every year, it seems one trend hits some sort of tipping point and takes center stage for the many window and door...more »

Forget the Big Mac Index, or even the Starbucks Latte Index. This gal is more interested in my self-proclaimed Black Friday Index. I've made a tradition of sorts here at Window & Door by admitting openly that I'm a Black Friday fanatic. My mother and I have been planning the post-turkey shopping spree for months now. And even though I had to write a check for an unexpected car...more »

Most industry executives I've talked to view the green building movement as an opportunity, but they have also been cautious about it. It's easy to see why now, based on developments at last week's Greenbuild show. Three window manufacturers found themselves in the crosshairs of an environmental group, accused of greenwashing because of where they source their lumber.
Now I wouldn't claim that...more »

Well, well, well. Could it be that U.S. businesses are coming out of their collective coma? Despite the latest unemployment data, there are some encouraging numbers floating around the headlines. Among my favorites is the report that companies are slowly but surely starting to invest in equipment and software.
(I can think of a few of my buddies in the industry who would breathe a huge sigh of...more »

Traditionally, when I heard the word "weatherization," it meant caulking some gaps and adding some insulation, not replacing windows or doors. That could be changing. The Department of Energy sees payback in getting more homes and buildings retrofitted with super-efficient products and is promoting a new high-volume purchase program for R-5 windows and high-performance storms. ...more »

AAMA and WDMA are throwing their support behind a new Senate bill designed to tie the energy efficient tax credits for windows, doors and skylights to Energy Star. Rather than the 30/30 requirements now in place, the bill would allow homeowners to claim tax credits for the purchase of products qualified to the new 2010 Energy Star standards.
What do you think? That's our poll question...more »